Apparatus for improving the writing characteristics of ball point pens



May 11, 1965 R. F. HARVEY 3,182,344

APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING THE WRITING CHARACTERISTICS OF BALL POINT PENS Filed Aug. 14 {1961 Fla 4- INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,182,344 APPARATUS FGR IMPROVING THE WRITING CHARACTERISTICS OF BALL POINT PENS Richard F. Harvey, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Metaltronics, Inc, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 131,304 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-94) This invention relates to an apparatus for improving the Writing characteristics of ball point pens, which have a tendency to stick and clog. More particularly this invention relates to the application of vibration to the spherical point of ball point pens to result in better writ ing characteristics. Also this invention relates to a vibratory apparatus for vibrating the tips of the ball point pens.

It is common knowledge that ball point pens clog and stick readily so that they do not write freely. This is due in part to the drying or oxidation of ink on the spherical ball point. This condition interferes with the free movement of ball point to rotate in its spherical holder and as a result it is common for such pens to write scratchy, intermittently or not at all.

I have found that vibration imparted to the tip of the ball point pens will result in freeing the ball point from the adverse effects of dried ink and as a result of the application of vibration the pens write much more freely and smoothly. It will be understood that this is true up to the time there is ink available in the reservoir of the pen and when the pen is out of ink, a new filler is required.

I have found also that there is a considerable diiference in the writing qualities of various fillers for ball point pens. This is believed to be due to differences in the consistency and viscosity of the ink as well as to mechanical differences in the fit and seating of the ball point in its essentially spherical socket. I believe that some inks have a tendency to thicken with age and, of course, all inks will oxidize and dry on exposure to air. Vibration is very effective in freeing clogged pens and also the application of mild heating is effective in accomplishing this purpose.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device to impart vibration to the points of ball point pens to result in improved writing characteristics.

It is a further object of this invention to correct for the adverse eifects of dried and oxidized ink on the spherical point of ball point pens by providing a device for imparting vibration with or without the application of heat.

It is another object of this invention to provide a de vice for imparting vibration to the spherical tips of ball point pens to permit the spherical tips to revolve more freely in the spherical socket of the pens.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a vibratory device to impart vibration to the points of ball point pens.

It is a related object of this invention to provide a vibratory apparatus with provision for the application of heat and vibration to the points of ball point pens.

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a vibrator for vibrating the points of ball point pens;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section through the spherical.

depression on the vibrator;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a section through a vibrator according to my invention.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 an apparatus according to my invention having a vibrator for vibrating the points of ball point 3,182,344 Patented May 11, I965 pens. The vibrator consists of a vibrating reed 1 which vibrates between two stationary contact points 2. An electromagnetic coil 3 causes the vibrating reed 1 to vibrate. A battery 4 provides the current and a switch 5 is provided to open or close the circuit. When the switch 5 is closed and the reed 1 is pressed against the left contact 2 by manipulation of a ball point pen, with the ball point in contact with depression 6, the electromagnetic coil- 3 is energized and the reed 1 is pulled toward the right stationary contact point 2. The instant the reed 1 leaves the left stationary contact point 2, the electromagnetic coil 3 is deenergized. The reed 1 flies back and is carried by its inertia to the other contact point 2 and the cycle is repeated over and over again. In the illustration in FIGURE 1 the reed 1 vibrates at about 115 cycles per second.

A spherical depression 6 is provided on the reed 1 to contact and impart vibration to the end of a ball point pen.

Referring to the illustration of FIGURE 2 of the drawing there is illustrated an enlarged view of the ball point pen 8 having a spherical point 7 which is inserted in the spherical depression 6 of the vibrating reed 1. The double arrow 9 illustrates the direction of vibration of the reed 1.

Referring to the illustration of FIGURE 3 of the drawing, in the single pole piece vibrator there illustrated, the pressure of the ball point 7 closes the circuit to activate the vibrator. When the reed 1 is depressed by the pressure of the pen point 7 at a cavity 6 in the reed I, the circuit is closed to activate the vibrator. The battery or source of voltage 4 provides current which flows through the coil 3 setting up a strong magnetic field in the pole piece 10 which pulls the vibrating reed 1 toward it thus separating the vibrating reed 1 from the contact point 2. When the reed 1 is separated from contact point 2 the current flow is interrupted and the reed 1 returns to the original position when current again flows through the coil 3 and the cycle is repeated over and over.

A 1% volt battery is very convenient and a frequency of about cycles per second is very suitable for the practice of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged View of a modification of the vibratory apparatus in which the ball 7 of the pen 8 is vibrated and subjected to heating. For this purpose a small amount of current is shunted off and passed through a resistor 11 to provide moderate heating to the depression 6 in the vibrating reed 1. In FIGURE 4 the depression 6 is conical and this works well as a spherical depression. The double arrow 9 illustrates the direction of vibration of the reed. I have found that the heating of the ball pointed end is effective at temperatures up to about 800 F.

While several specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated it will be understood that variations may be employed embodying the essential features of my invention. 'For example, instead of batteries as a source of voltage, house current with or Without a transformer may be used. Also the vibrator may involve differences in construction such as the use of multiple pole pieces.

Also I have found that the frequency of vibration is not particularly critical and I have employed frequencies in the range of about 20 cycles per second to about 2 /2 megacycles per second with beneficial results.

In the foregoing specification I have set out certain preferred embodiments and practices of my invention. It will be understood, however, that this invention may be otherwise embodied and otherwise practiced Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vibratory apparatus for imparting vibration to the ball pointed ends of pens which comprises an electromagnetic coil and pole piece; a reed having one end fixed and the other movable; said movable end of said reed being arranged with respect to the said pole piece that during the period in which thesaid coil is energized, the said movable end of the said reed moves towards'the pole piece to open a circuit to the coil; means for energizing the said coil by the pressure of a ball pointed pen against the said movable end of the said reed to impart vibration to the said reed at its movable end and to the said ball pointed pen in contact therewith.

2. A vibratory apparatus for imparting vibration to the ball pointed ends of pens which comprises an electromagnetic coil and pole piece, a reed having one end fixed and the other movable, said reed being provided at its movable end with a depression to fit the ball pointed ends of pens, said pole piece, being arranged to attract the said reed at its movable and when the coil is energized to move the reed to open a circuit to the coil, means for energizing the said coil by pressure of a ball pointed pen against the said depression to impart periodic vibration to the said reed at its movable end and the ball pointed end of said pen in contact therewith.

References Jilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Examiner. 

1. A VIBRATORY APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING VIBRATION TO THE BALL POINTED ENDS OF PENS WHICH COMPRISES AN ELECTROMAGNETIC COIL AND POLE PIECE; A REED HAVING ONE END FIXED AND THE OTHER MOVABLE; SAID MOVABLE END OF SAID REED BEING ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE SAID POLE PIECE THAT DURING THE PERIOD IN WHICH THE SAID COIL IS ENERGIZED, THE SAID MOVABLE END OF THE SAID REED MOVES TOWARDS THE POLE PIECE TO OPEN A CIRCUIT TO THE COIL; MEANS FOR ENERGIZING THE SAID COIL BY THE PRESSURE OF A BALL POINTED PEN AGAINST THE SAID MOVABLE END OF THE SAID REED TO IMPART VIBRATION TO THE SAID REED AT ITS MOVABLE END AND TO THE SAID BALL POINTED PEN IN CONTACT THEREWITH. 